Hungarian Balaton sailing festival Kékszalag sees double win for Fifty-Fifty

The opening weekend of the Kékszalag sailing festival on Lake Balaton featured two main races – the White Ribbon (Fehér Szalag) and the Izsák Szabolcs Memorial Race. A total of 275 boats entered, with 232 in the White Ribbon and 43 in the Memorial race, drawing 1,314 participants across all classes.

Team Fifty-Fifty, skippered by Márton Józsa, captured first place in both events and also won the debut I. Raiffeisen Katamaran Grand Prix. RSM finished second and Team Kaáli third in the White Ribbon. The fastest single‑handed vessel was the Lisa, while the classic Hárpia led the traditional fleet.

A technical mishap occurred when the fast libera‑type boat Principessa broke its spar; the crew was unharmed. Youth participation was strong, with 43 junior and eight teenage sailors, including the all‑teen crew of the René Raffica boat. In the Izsák Memorial race, Lillafüred took first, Pannónia second and the legendary Nemere II third.